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Politics of fear!!!

Posted by monkeysuit • 9/30/08 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: politics of fear

I thought only Republicans use fear as a political tool. I guess not as seen by this bailout push. Democrats urging to get it done or else there will be a meltdown of everything. Read my full thought on this here. randompoliticalthoughtsandnews.blogspot.com/2008/09/isnt-fear-republicans-c...

Let me know what you think. Are the Democrats using fear?

User Comments

10/01/08

monkeysuit

I see nobody wts to touch this. With so many left wingers on here- they must not be able to comment becuse its true.

[reply]
10/01/08

clioandme

Don't really see what you're getting at, but let me try: The difference, it seems to me, is that there is no political gain to be had from this bailout plan. Supporting this thing has nothing to do with a larger political calculus. It's about the substance of the issues. You'll notice that McCain and Obama and Biden will all probably be voting for this thing tonight.

[reply]
1. 10/01/08
  
  monkeysuit
  
  They are using fear to get people on board. If we don't do this then we will have a financial meltdown. Much like Republicans use terrorism as a fear tool.
10/01/08

satijournal

It may be true that without the bailout, credit will dry up, which will be devastating for the economy. It's already getting very difficult to get a loan.

So, while there may be some fear mongering going on, it may be justified.

[reply]
1. 10/01/08
  
  monkeysuit
  
  Yes but it is also true we could be attacked by terrorists if we don't stay on the offensive. My point is the Democrats always say that Republicans use fear as a political tool and I think the Democrats are doing just that to get support for this.
2. 10/01/08
  
  satijournal
  
  Yes but what do the Democrats have to gain from this? Nothing that I can tell. The terrorist fear mongering that we should stay on the offensive isn't supported by any facts. The economic crisis is.
3. 10/01/08
  
  monkeysuit
  
  Did 9-11 not happen? Anyway my point is that if the Democrats say it is wrong to use fear as a political tool then they should not turn around and use fear as a political tool for whatever reason.
4. 10/01/08
  
  RuinousRight
  
  "Yes but it is also true we could be attacked by terrorists if we don't stay on the offensive. My point is the Democrats always say that Republicans use fear as a political tool and I think the Democrats are doing just that to get support for this."
  
  Bush, some Republicans, some economists and journalists are also using fear then. I haven't seen anyone too excited about voting FOR this bailout and I certainly haven't seen any fear-mongering on the level that is typical of the right.
  
  A lot of ground was covered here on the subject:
  www.blogcatalog.com/politics/discuss/entry/republican-bloggers-the-terror-t...
5. 10/01/08
  
  monkeysuit
  
  RuinousRight
  
  Are you reading anything before you respond? I didn't say that no Republicans were and I also said it doesn't matter why or what level they are doing it my point is they are doing it. And if the Democrats say the Republicans shouldn't use fear well then they shouldn't as well. For any reason at any level. It's not an argument to say well yeah I am using fear but not at the same level so we aren't as bad.
6. 10/01/08
  
  RuinousRight
  
  Relax. I haven't read every post here, but I did read a few along with your blog post.
  
  I know that both parties use fear in some instances, but I don't see fear-mongering as part of the Democratic Party's platform. Many think it's part of the Republican platform - it certainly has been prominent in the Bush/Cheney administration and it has allowed them to push through questionable legislation.
  
  I've also noticed many right-wing blogs with terror alert graphics and right-biased Fox News reminds viewers of the threat level all the time. I don't see or hear this kind of fear-mongering on left-leaning blogs or the MSM.
  
  My post was a response to your !!! question.
7. 10/01/08
  
  monkeysuit
  
  Ok fair enough. I agree it may not be the Democratic platform but I don't think they should be doing it at all. It may seem a bit much with terror alerts and this and that. But I would say that for so long terrorism was put on the back burner, it was news but it didn't happen here so it didn't get much press. We have to from now on keep it in the front of our minds to be effective in preventing further attacks. I agree with you it should not be used to push questionable legislation.
8. 10/01/08
  
  monkeysuit
10/01/08

polybore

The two types of fear we are talking about here are rational fear, and irrational fear.

There is not a problem with politicians using rational fears to promote their policies. You can categorise a rational fear as one which is substantiated by facts.

An irrational fear is one, which is without credible substantiating facts, and has just been made up to influence voters. Obviously there is a big problem when politicians stoop to using irrational fear because policy and government based on it will be flawed.

Now this bailout has been devised and promoted by a Republican Administration. Also, the bailout has bipartisan support including that of the Presidential candidates. With this in mind it is a bit unfair to say that the Democrats only have been pushing for the bailout plan.

The fact that the US economy is on the verge of collapse is a fact that should scare you, no fear mongering required.

[reply]
1. 10/01/08
  
  monkeysuit
  
  Yes most of that is true. However have we not been attacked and did not thousands of people die? That is real and tangible. Nobody is positive that a economic collapse will happen without this bailout, I would argue it could still happen. But if you are saying it is wrong to use peoples fears against them you shouldn't then use peoples fear to advance something you back. I would say death is far more serious than a financial collapse. The US economy on the verge of collapse doesn't scare me half as much as resorting to socialist ideals to save what is supposed to be a free market. The free market will correct it self. And the government should not bailout anybody. It is the fault of those who bought mortgages they couldn't afford and those who gave them money knowing they couldn't afford it.
2. 10/01/08
  
  polybore
  
  Financial collapse will result in death on a scale that will make any perceived terrorist threat seem insignificant. The US medical system is built on health insurance. Insurance companies stand to go bust (like AIG before it was bailed out).
  
  People stand to become homeless, not just people who cannot afford to pay their mortgage but also people who have never missed a payment but are finding that when their fixed rate has expired they can't get a new mortgage.
  
  More banks may go bust and people who have never had a loan in their lives may lose all their savings. Peoples retirement plans based on stock will be wiped out leaving them penny less in their old age.
  
  And that is without going into all the jobs that will be lost and the students who will not be able to get a loan to go to college.
  
  It is not just a down turn but a serious recession which is on the cards. The problem seems to be that most people in the US do not understand the consequences of this type of serious economic failure.
3. 10/01/08
  
  monkeysuit
  
  polybore are you serious? Is that what happened in the Great Depression? Man any perceived terrorist threat wow I don't know what to say to that, did they not fly planes into our buildings and kill people, do they not hate us and want to do it again?
10/01/08

MadameX

Sometimes factual information leads to fear. If it's considered a political ploy to tell the truth if it's unpleasant, that says a lot more about our mentality as a society than it does about the politicians in question.

[reply]
1. 10/01/08
  
  monkeysuit
  
  I agree my point is if you say it is wrong then you should refrain from using it.
10/01/08

omiller

But you forget it's the President's plan and the Democrats are willing to go along with him. I know McCain is trying to convince people Bush is a Democrat, but you can't erase people's memories by wishful thinking.

[reply]
1. 10/01/08
  
  monkeysuit
  
  No I haven't I'm not arguing that. I am arguing that the Democrats are engaging in the politics of fear something they supposedly are against.
10/01/08

clioandme

As I tried to say earlier, specific types of discourse only have meaning in context. Bush/Cheney used a discourse of fear for their own political gains. Democrats have nothing to gain by drumming up support for a bailout. You are comparing apples and oranges.

[reply]
1. 10/01/08
  
  monkeysuit
  
  No I am merely saying regardless of the reason they are using fear as a political tool for public support of this bailout, they being Democrats. Obama and Dodd being the loudest and of course they have something to gain they can claim they saved the economy especially if Obama gets elected. Politicians do nothing unless there is gain.
10/01/08

globalgirl

Absolutely. The use of fear to control the masses is bipartisan.

[reply]
1. 10/01/08
  
  monkeysuit
  
  Thank you somebody to agree.